Many Miles Later

In my last post, I shared the somewhat chaotic but logistically sound decision to take a one-day trip to New York City. But what exactly do you do with less than ten hours in one of the busiest cities in the world?

Flying MCO to LGA

I caught the 7:19 AM flight out of MCO, but keep in mind—I had to drive two hours to get to Orlando, which meant a brutal 4 AM wake-up call. We traveled light (just my purse and my husband’s work backpack), which made the airport process smoother. Check-in was quick, PreCheck worked its magic, and we even had time for a quick breakfast while admiring our hot pink plane at the gate. We departed on time and landed at LaGuardia before 10 AM.

This was my first time flying into LaGuardia since the renovations were officially completed earlier this year, and I have to say, I was impressed. Terminal B is clean, modern, and surprisingly artful. No more ominous construction hallways with wires dangling from the ceiling. Were there still birds in the terminal? Just one. But honestly, I believe birds, nature’s original flight crew, belong in airports. There was plenty of seating, good signage, and, most importantly, nice bathrooms.

Getting into Manhattan from LaGuardia is always a hassle. There’s no direct subway access, and rideshares and taxis can get expensive fast. That said, the free LaGuardia Link bus saved the day. It connects Terminals B and C to the Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Ave subway station, where I caught the M Train straight to Bryant Park.

Bryant Park + NYPL

Bryant Park shines in the winter with its famous holiday market and ice rink, but summer still has plenty to offer: movies in the park, chess and ping-pong tables, and a packed calendar of free events. It’s a peaceful green pocket in midtown and absolutely worth a visit.

Right behind the park is the main branch of the New York Public Library—an architectural gem. Inside, you’ll find a few small exhibits and the kind of peaceful, grand reading rooms that make you want to write a novel on the spot.

Dinner at Le Tout Va Bien

Before heading back to the airport, I made one final stop for an early dinner at Le Tout Va Bien, a charming French restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen that’s been open since 1949. It deserves a post of its own, because I always make time for it when I’m in the city. If you’re a fan of French food or need a solid pre-theater meal, this is your spot. Just go.

Switching Airports: JFK Return

Instead of booking a round-trip, I opted for two one-way flights for more flexibility. For the return, I chose to fly out of JFK. LaGuardia’s lack of easy transit options makes it a pain to get back to during evening rush hour. Normally, I’d take the LIRR to JFK, but since it was peak Monday traffic, I splurged on a cab, which are flat-rate to JFK, to avoid the commuter crowds.

We arrived at JFK and were immediately met with a very long TSA line, which was a bad omen. PreCheck helped, but even that took 10 minutes, which is unusual. My flight was still listed as on time… for now.

What I didn’t know was that JFK, and other NYC-area airports, were being slammed by the remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal. Torrential rain, high winds, and near-zero visibility had triggered a full FAA ground stop, freezing incoming flights and limiting departures. Over 200 delays, nearly 30 cancellations, and passengers trapped on the tarmac for hours. It was chaos. JetBlue, Delta, United, Spirit. The terminals were packed, and rebooking became a nightmare.

We boarded on time, but ended up waiting almost an hour on the runway, only to learn our pilots had timed out. We returned to the gate. JetBlue managed to find reserve pilots who arrived an hour later, and we reboarded, but the flight after ours wasn’t so lucky and got canceled. Our 8:45 PM flight finally took off after 1 AM.

Delays like that are inconvenient under any circumstance, but after 21 hours awake, it felt brutal. We landed at MCO around 4 AM on Tuesday and grabbed a cheap hotel nearby to power nap before the final two-hour drive home.

We got our Mosaic status for the next 3 months, but was it worth the hassel? Despite the exhausting hours, airport chaos, and weather delays, the trip was absolutely worth the hassle. In under ten hours, I got to stroll through Bryant Park, explore the iconic New York Public Library, and enjoy a dreamy French dinner at my favorite NYC spot, Le Tout Va Bien. It reminded me that even the most whirlwind trips can leave lasting memories especially when you plan strategically and stay flexible. Sometimes a little chaos is the price of a great adventure.

1. Images courtesy of LaGuardia Gateway Partners ↩︎